Coin dispenser



March 4, 1952 M, F, ARNETT 2,587,809

com DISPENSER Filed Sept. 9, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet 1 WW 3m March 4, 1952 ARNETT 2,587,809

COIN DISPENSER Filed Sept. 9, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

Millard F. Amer! INVEN TOR.

F/fg. 2.

min mg; E M1 M. F. ARNETT COIN DISPENSER March 4, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Sept. 9, 1948 r w 6 1. I 9 4 v w 4 .0. 5 m m H g a .5 F M B l Millard F. Ame/l IN V EN TOR.

BY w

Patented Mar. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN DISPENSER Millard F. Arnett, Falrmont, W. Va. Application September 9, 1948, Serial No. 48,517

3 Jlaims. 1

This invention relates to novel and usefulimprovements in coin dispensers, of the. .type adapted. to dispense a pre-selected number of coins upon a single manipulation.

An object of this invention is to dispense one or a number of coins by means of a structure which includes a base member having two pivotally operable coin ejectors mounted herein, a turret-type coin holder having a plurality of like coin tubes, which holder is mounted on the top face of the base member, the coin holder and the ejectors being rotatably mounted on a single shaft that extends from the bottom; side of the base member completely through the base member and to a point spaced substantially above the top surface of said member.

Another object of this invention is to rotatably support a turret on a relatively stationary member, a central shaft extending through the turret and stationary member, with means at tached to the relatively stationary member for dispensing a preselected number of coins from a selected tube in the turret, the selectivity of the tube being effected by means of rotation of the turret over an aperture in the relatively stationary member, which aperture also communicates with the coin-dispensing mechanism.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved base in association with the relatively stationary member with recesses in the sides thereof and a completely open front whereby access to the dispensing mechanism may be readily affected.

Another purpose of this invention is to provide an extremely simplified device of the character .to'be described which is devoid of complicated mechanism and'which by minor adjustment may be made to dispense any num-- ber of coins by simply substituting thicker or thinner. coin dispensing elements.

Ancillary objects and features of novelty will become apparent to those skilled in the art, in following the description of the preferred form of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the preferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the invention shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on a line 3-3 of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 3 and in the direction of thearrows; 1 m

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on a line 55 of Figure 3 and in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of 5 the parts forming the dispensing mechanism in the device.

It is one of the prime purposes of the invention to provide a device which is practical in its intended operation and which is inexpensive to 10 manufacture.

Under certain operative conditions a device of the character to bejdescribed is extremely handy. In instances wherein coin receiving music sets, games of chance such as pin ball machines and the like are present, an individual in the establishment usually has many requests during the course of an evening for change of rather high denomination coins or bills. It is of course requested that a preselected denomination of coin be given, usually nickels. Accordingly, in order to obviate the necessity of counting out for example five coins over and over again during the course of the evening, the instant invention may be utilized to dispense five coins per operation. Any number of coins may be dispensed in accordance with the prerogative of the maker of the invention.

In the instant case there is disclosed two dispensing mechanisms for issuing two different numbers of coins. Of course, any practical number of dispensing mechanisms may be used as desired. For reasons of economy the preferential number of dispensing mechanisms is two.

The broad structural makeup of the present device includes a coin dispenser with a turrettype coin holder and a hopper communicating therewith. Coins are simply indiscriminately thrown or placed in the hopper and by gravity they seek the lower level which happens in this instance to be a number of coin tubes associated with the turret. There are two pivotally' operable coin dispensing mechanisms or ejectors relatively stationarily positioned beneath the turret-type coin holder and of course, the coin holder is rotatable with respect to the coin ejecting mechanisms.

Two of the tubes are simultaneously matched with the tube ejector mechanisms, the said two tubes being brought into registry with two openings in the relatively stationary support on which the coin holder is mounted and through which the coins are fed by gravity into coin receiving apertures of the coin ejectors or ejector mechanisms. Since the coin ejectors have elements of difierent thicknesses to hold a different number of coins, a preselected number of coins may be ejected. The different thickness elements are pivotally operable to bring the coins contained therein into registry with two discharge openings in the coin support portion or element which is positioned immediately below the electors or ejector mechanisms and through which the coins are dispensed into the same hand of an operator which i used for actuating the ejector mechanisms. V

A base is constructed of such design that not only is the turret-type coin holder along with the ejector mechanisms supported but it is also supported in a manner so that the ejector mechanism may be easily and conveniently operated.

' The complete front of the base is open and re cessed portions are provided in the sides of the base for ready access of the hand of an operator to the ejector mechanisms.

This base may be detachably associated with the remainder of the mechanism or if desired, may be formed as a single piece or rigidly secured thereto. This is but a matter of expediency.

The said base includes a bottom I with a back wall I2 attached thereto and side walls I4 and I6 respectively. The side walls hav smoothly curved recesses I8 forming the front portions thereof and the f ren't of the said base i completely-epen.

A turret-type magazine is associated with'the said-base and includes a hopper which is seated upon an upper plate 22 which has a number of apertures 24 therein. These apertures have smoothly curved guide walls 26 forming subhoppers within the main hopper 20. A number of coins which are poured indiscriminately in the hopper 20 -'will follow the contour of the smoothly curved walls "26 for subsequent depositing in one or more of the five tubes 28, 30, 32, 34, and'36.

The said tubes extend partially within the apertures 24 an amount which is suificient to provide a firm bearing surface. The opposite ends of each of'the tubes are attached by any suitable means to a disk-like plate 38 which has complementalapertures therein. Thus, a through passage is supplied from the hopper 20 to the plate or disk 38 through all of the said tubes.

'An'ejector mechanism is seated on'the support and" also supports the said tubes and pertinent mechanism. This ejector mechanism includes a pair of spaced plates 40 and 42 respectively, the

. plate 40 being the upper plate and having a vaa coin receiving Opening therein is provided with a bearing 52 spaced from the coin receiving opening 50. A stop '54 having a smoothly curved inner surface "is attached to the coin receiving plate 48 and this stop engages the complemental stop 56 having 'a smoothly 'curvedside wall 58 when the plate is pivotally operated. The last mentioned stop 56 is attached firmly to the lowe'r'pl'ate' 42 by means of screws or the like as seen at 60.

A relatively thicker"pla'te'generally indicated tion in discharging coins.

at 62 is provided in juxtaposition to the said plate is engaged by the flat surface I8 of the shim upon pivotal movement thereof, in order to limit the travel relative to pivotal movement as will be described subsequently.

In order to mount the pivotal coin ejector plates 48 and 52 respectively, a shaft extends through central apertures in the hopper plate 22, and an aperture 82 in the upper plate 40 of I the coin ejector or dispenser mechanism. The

said shaft has reduced end portions in order to accommodate a nut 84 at one end thereof and in order to accommodate a bearing cluster 86 at the other end thereof. This bearing cluster received in the bearings 52 and 54 thereby pivotally journaling the coin dispenser plates 48 and 62 beneath the-said plate 40 and above the said plate 42. V

Means for actuating the s'aid-coin dispenser plates 48 and 62 respectively is provided. The preferable means consists of smoothly -curved arcuate arms88 and 90 respectively which have flattened end portions and apertures 92'provided therein. At the-opposite ends of the curvedarms' 88 and 90 there is supplied screws 04 and 96 1cspectively which may be substituted by any suitable equivalent. -The said screw 96 is threadedly attached to the shim'18 while the'said screw '04 is threadedly attached to the stop 54. The smoothly contoured or surfaced bearing cluster 86 has a lowermost reduced portion '98 which seats the said arms 88 and 90 respectively through the medium of utilization of the apertures 9211's bearings. It is seen from inspection of Figure'3 that-the said arms are journaled beneath the plate-42-and may be used for manual manipula' An anchoring screw I00 isattached in the aperture I02 of the ".plate 42 and has apair of springs I04 and I06 'r'es'pec= t-ively attached. thereto through themedium "of small links I08 or any other'suitable' equivalent means. Of course, if it is found desirable "the said springs I04 and I00 may be attached idirectly to theanchoringscrew I00.

The opposite ends of the said springs I04 and I06 respectively are'se'cured t'o'the shim I8 and to the stop 54 'respectiveiy'thereby resiliently biasing the coin receiving'plat'es in a pivotal manner, until acted "upon by an external force such as the fingers of an operator pulling the arcuate operatingarms 88 and 90're'spectively.

In order toass'emble the coin dispensing mec hanism screws II0 extend through both plates 40 and 42 respectively and a suitable collar '2 may be interposed between the plates serving th'efpu'r pose of spacer members'fo'r each screw. In'this instance there are four utilized, one at each cor-' ner of both'of the said plates 40 and 42. Further, the said screws may be of sufficient length to ex tend through both plates and terminate in 'suitable perches or brackets I"I4 which are placed at the corners of the base 's'u'pportthereby securing the assembleddvic'e to the support. 5 In order that the shaft 80 and bearing cluster 84 may be maintained in assembled'form, a small screw or the like H8 may attach to the. lower portion 88 of the said cluster 88. Thisis however, a matter of expediency and other common expedients may be resorted to such as solderin spot welding etc. w

As stated hereinbefore the said shaft 88 extends through the turret-type magazine, the plates 38,:and the hopper bottom or npper plate of the turret-type magazine being immovable relative to each other through the medium of the tubes. Accordingly, all the tubes and the associated mechanism may be turned bodily in a rotated manner about the shaft 88 asxan axis. This turning will allow successive pairs of tubes to be matched with the apertures 44 and 48 and consequently the apertures 58 and 88 in dispensing coins. Accordingly, when certain of the magazines have been exhausted of the contents, the entire magazine is simply rotated an appropriate amount thereby aligning other full tubes. The rather large opening I28 provided in the bottom plate 42 matches with the apertures 58 and 88 (and consequently 12) only in one pivotal position of the said plates 48 and 82. Normally, the said apertures 44, 50 and 48, 88Iare aligned with the tube openings to allow the predeterminate number of coins to fill these apertures. Accordingly the dispenser mechanism is constantly charged. Upon pivotal movement of the plate 48, the single coin (in this instance) is slid forward, riding on the stop 56 until the opening 58 matches sufficiently with the opening 128, at which time the single coin is dispensed.

The coins charging the apertures 168 and 12 normally rest on the material of the lower plate 42 until such time that they are urged by means of pivotal movement of the plate82 into discharging relation with the opening I28.

It will be noted that the opening I28 is common to both discharging or coin ejecting units for convenience of reception of the coins into the hands of an operator. The specific location of the operatingly arms 88 and 80 is of importance, as the movement of the arms may be effected by means of the fingers while the hand of an operator is normally cupped substantially immediately below the aperture I20 in order tolreceive the coins which have been ejected therein.

By varying the size of the shim 'I8,'any specific number within practical limits of coins may be discharged. The preferable arrangement is to discharge two and five coins as this'gnumber is equal to one dime or one quarter. E'Ihis is of course, a matter of expediency and desire of the manufacturer.

As stated above the turret-type magazine may be rotated about the central shaft 80 for matching selected tubes with the various coin'receiving openings. In order to anchor the. said turrettype magazine in selected positions so that the tubes will match or be in direct communication with the openings 44 and 46, small recesses I24 may be spaced about the periphery of the plate 88 for accommodation of a spring latch I26. This spring latch is attached by means of a screw I28 or the like to the said plate 48 and extends around a binding post I30 so that the curved or arcuate terminal portion I42 may be resiliently biased into the recesses. By proper positioning of the spring latch with relation to the turret-type magazine, it serves as an indicator to ascertain at which position the tubes are aligned with the coin receiving openings.

In order to limit the travel of the arms 88 and 88 respectively, the dispenser plates 48 and 82 re- 6 spectively strike the stops 58 and 14 respectively in pivotal movement in one direction, and in the other direction the said screws 94 and 88 engage the end edges of recesses I36 and I38 respectively which are provided in the sides of the said plate 42. Hence, only a predetermined amount of movement is allowed, which amount is proper for correct-dispensing of either a single coin or any number of coins by the aforementioned pertinent mechanism.

It is apparent that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A coin dispenser comprising: a' fiat hollow base member of substantially square plan form and relatively smallheight compared to its plan dimensions having a single straight centrally disposed mounting shaft extending from bottom to top therethrough, said shaft being perpendicular to and projecting a substantial distance above the top face of the saidbase member; two pivotal- .ly operable coin ejectors of unequal thicknesses each having a coin receiving aperture and a mounting aperture therein and a finger lever projecting downwardly from its lower face, said coin ejectors being mounted within the said hollow base member with the aforesaid mounting shaft extending through their mounting apertures; and a turret type coin holder formed of a disk-like bottom member having a shaft opening through its center perpendicular to the faces of the said bottom member and'a plurality of like coin tubes mounted on said bottom member perpendicular to the faces thereof with their centers equally spaced on the circumference of a circle concentric with the shaft opening of the said bottom member, said coin holder being mounted on the top face of the said base member with the shaft opening of its disk-like member rotatable on the projecting portion of the aforesaid mounting shaft; said base member comprising a substantially square turret support plate forming its top, a coin support plate of the same size and configuration as the turret support plate forming the bottom of said base, member, and two spacers each of a height slightly greater than the thickness of the coin ejector of greater thickness disposed between the said plates at their front and rear edges and maintaining the first named plate in spaced superposedparallel relation to the second named plate, said turretsupport plate having therethrough two coin inlet openings equally distant from its front edge and further disposed to be in simultaneous registry with two non-adjacent coin tubes of the said coin holder, said coin ejectors being normally held in registry with the above coin inlet openings by tension springs. there being an apertured filler plate above the coin ejector of greater thickness to make a continuous closed passage from the lower end of the coin tube to the last named coin ejector. said coin support plate having therethrough two arcuate finger lever slots through which the downwardly projecting finger levers of the said coin ejectors extend, and two coin discharge openings equally distant from its front edge and closer thereto than the coin inlet openings are to the front edge of the turret support plate, said coin discharge openings being so positioned that they will be in registry with the coin receiving apertures of the aforesaid coin ejectors when the coin ejectors are at the forward end of their paths of rotation.

2. A coin dispenser comprising a base member anemone -v 7 havinga :pair or pivotallyoperable coin ejectors mounted therein :and each ejector having an :eject'or opening, said base member including a first and a second superposed plate forming a ;pair of spaced plates said first :plate having .coin

receiving openings therein normally-communicatedgwiththe openings in the coin ejectors, "the second :ofsaidiplatesnhaving a discharge opening Iwhich is normallyrnonealigned with. the 'ejentor openings, a stop attached to said second plate having .:one .of said coin ejectors slidably' received the-reom the opening in the said .one of :saidcoin ejector mechanisms being normally positioned .directly "above said 58110;) .and slidable thereon in order to seat coins on the stop until released through the. discharge opening, the other of said aligned withithe openings inthe 'firstbase plate to gravity-feed coins into said coin-receiving openings.

3. The combination of claim '2 and "resilient means mounted on said first plate and'operativ'e- 1y. connected with said coin holder for releasably retaining aiselected "one of said tubes in align-'- :mentwiththe apertures in said first plate. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of "this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Date .iName 267,343 Whistler v a May 21, 19-18 .l;36 2',961 Parker May 6, 1919 1348504 Wurzbach Feb. 25,1930 113131120 Wilson July 7,1931

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country 7 Date a 5,937 "Great Britain Dec. 8, 1904 Austria in tea-e. Dec.110,, 1 928 

